Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Bud Cramer (D-Ala.) announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved legislation to aid Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

The Pell Grant Hurricane and Disaster Relief Act enables the U.S. Department of Education to waive the repayment requirement for Pell Grant recipients whose school attendance is interrupted because of Hurricane Katrina.  This allows students living or working in the declared disaster region to postpone repayments of individual grants for the current and following academic year.

The Federal Judiciary Emergency Special Sessions Act allows circuit courts of appeals, district courts, and bankruptcy courts to hold special sessions anywhere within the United States outside of their normal geographic area.  This bill will enable the circuit and district courts in the declared disaster region to continue its work.

"These bills are the first of many pieces of legislation Congress will consider to help aid in the recovery efforts," said Cramer.  "I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that our local, state, and federal officials have the resources they need to work through this difficult period and to help the displaced evacuees return to a normal routine as quickly as possible."

The House also approved a resolution expressing the condolences of the nation to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.  The resolution expresses the commitment of the House to provide the necessary resources and to stand by the people of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama in the relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts.

The bills approved today are in addition to the $10.5 billion Congress appropriated last week for disaster assistance.  Cramer commented, "It is important that we give the affected families all of the help they deserve and need.  In addition, we must work to remove the bureaucratic obstacles that prevent aid from getting to the people who need it when they need it."